Cleric arrested in Kenya over terror links

A Muslim cleric was arrested in Kenya's Mombasa city on Thursday over alleged links with the Al-Shabaab militant group, police said.

Coast Regional Police chief Francis Wanjohi said the cleric Ibrahim Bukhari was arrested after he was found spying on residential and commercial buildings within Kizingo area in the coastal city, Xinhua news agency reported.

"The officials have been granted 30 days to continue interrogating him. We believe he also used the mosque to radicalise youth through extremist ideologies," said Wanjohi.

The cleric's arrest comes in the wake of terror alert in the coastal region during the holy month of Ramadan by Al-Shabaab militants.

Mombasa County Commissioner Maalim Mohammed said elaborate security measures have been put in place in the city.

"We have deployed undercover and uniformed police officers, and surveillance equipment, including CCTV cameras, has been increased in places frequented by people in a move to boost security," Mohammed said.

--IANS

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